Biology / Unit 9 Bio 1945 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Bacteria versus Archaea: Membrane Lipid Differences
Captions available
The idea
Bacterial membranes link fatty acids to glycerol by an ester bond; archaeal membranes link branched phytanyl chains to glycerol by an ether bond.
In practice
Some archaeal membranes form a single lipid monolayer rather than the bilayer both bacteria and eukaryotes, otherwise share.
Where people slip
This lipid difference, not shape or size, is one of the structural grounds for placing Bacteria and Archaea in separate domains.
Your place on the trail
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